Prospects for Houston area middle school children received a generous bump with the inaugural "Education Without Boundaries" luncheon that raised $150,000 for Citizen Schools Texas.

The national non-profit partners with middle schools to lengthen the school day and provide more relevant learning experiences to children in low-income communities. So high was the interest in the subject that the ballroom of the Junior League of Houston was sold out. Applause, applause for luncheon chair Nicole Perdue and Citizen Schools Texas executive director Todd Litton.

More than 270 guests listened with rapt attention as Citizen Schools co-founder and CEO Eric Schwarz spoke on the critical need for increased learning time in schools across the country. Houston Independent School District principal Diana De La Rosa gave a testimonial on the difference that Citizen Schools has made at her home base, Patrick Henry Middle School.